So should we just not play our most in form striker because his shitty midfield can't get him the ball in goalscoring areas? Why get in the box when we can't even get the ball to the flanks or attempt through balls.

I agree that he should have been subbed off in the second half, but Klinsmann used all of his subs on more center mids way too early.

Would you blame Suarez for not scoring, if he doesn't get the ball in good positions?

Strikers are meant to score goals first and foremost. To score goals you need the ball in positions where you can score goals. We didn't have that today except for the one Dempsey goal, and the half chance Jozy had from the GAM cross.

quote:Would you blame Suarez for not scoring, if he doesn't get the ball in good positions?

lol.

I would never blame Suarez because one thing is never in doubt: his passion for victory. He will run himself into the ground, from start to finish, regardless of the score and regardless of how many times he touches the ball. He isn't a bitch who waits for the game to come to him - he makes sure he is always involved whether it is with the ball at his feet, or while he is incessantly pressing the defense/midfield. Technical/creative skills aside, this team would be much better with a Suarez or Kuyt in the squad.

PS Suarez scored 15 goals in a top 3 league in the world as an isolated CF surrounded by teenagers. Whether the service is good or not in any given match, Suarez makes his presence known.

quote:To score goals you need the ball in positions where you can score goals.

Suarez was a bad example, but he has far better service with Liverpool than Altidore with the USMNT. Look at how Andy Carroll was castrated last year. He got into good positions, just sucked at finishing. That's reasonable grounds for criticism for a striker.

What I'm confused about is how you would replace a forward who is not getting the ball in dangerous positions?

This happened to Rooney and Messi in the World Cup. He kept dropping deeper and deeper to receive the ball. Both couldn't score because their team's formations went to shite. They lost the point of their attacks.

I like Herc as a forward when we either have another classic winger on the opposite flank or when he's playing alongside another striker because of his speed and work ethic.

He's technically limited, but works hard.

Altidore's best time as a national team player came when he had another forward to partner with like Charlie Davies and even slow as lard Brian fricking Ching. It's obvious that he can't score as a lone forward, because again, he need the ball in good positions. Unless things change, he's not going to score with our no width, 5 center mids, lone forward formations.

quote:Altidore's best time as a national team player came when he had another forward to partner with like Charlie Davies and even slow as lard Brian fricking Ching.

I don't know if Duece is the best pairing for him, either. Altidore hasn't grown into the target man type forward. For whatever reason. He doesn't hold the ball up well. I really wish he'd learn how to use his body. I.E. Confed Cup v Spain goal.

The point isn't that I'm blaming Jozy (which I am to a degree - he is lazy, uninterested and lacks match fitness, but that isn't the point), the point is that Jozy does NOT fit our current system. If we ever get to the point where we can work the ball into the final third with reasonable consistency, he will be the man to lead the line.

You wouldn't start Messi for Stoke (okay, he would start if they had him - but you get the point) and you wouldn't start Carroll for Barcelona.

Right now we need an ultra-physical player who will make their presence known, win headers, work for the team, attract defenders and allow other players to make runs off of. Jozy just really doesn't have any of those qualities, especially when he is asked to drop deep (like he was today).

quote:The point isn't that I'm blaming Jozy (which I am to a degree - he is lazy, uninterested and lacks match fitness, but that isn't the point), the point is that Jozy does NOT fit our current system. If we ever get to the point where we can work the ball into the final third with reasonable consistency, he will be the man to lead the line.

You wouldn't start Messi for Stoke (okay, he would start if they had him - but you get the point) and you wouldn't start Carroll for Barcelona.

Right now we need an ultra-physical player who will make their presence known, win headers, work for the team, attract defenders and allow other players to make runs off of. Jozy just really doesn't have any of those qualities, especially when he is asked to drop deep (like he was today).

I agree with all this, I think.

The truth of the matter is that there is blame to go around the entire squad today. There literally wasn't a single player who's performance I was pleased with. I think we have some major issues in the midfield, and an even bigger concern with Klinsmann's tactics. I kinda feel like the striker position is the least of my worries at this point.

He's a decent holdup forward in Holland, but today and in other national team games he looks pretty poor.

I think he was just ill prepared for the heat and humidity today, as was most of our team. Not to mention he's been a 90' a game player for AZ this season for the first time in his career. It looked particularly bad for him when he wasn't substituted.

Like I said, he needs a partner forward or some decent flank play.

This team looks demotivated. At least in the Bob Ball days there was always a fight back from his teams. Never mind the fact that we were always behind a goal less than 10 minutes into the game.

Could describe the entire team at times. As far as match fitness, I don't think you can blame Klinsmann for that. (Not saying you are) I just don't think anyone is used to 95 degree heat when the majority play in the European winters.

The scary thing is we haven't been given a single reason to think this will change. I truly don't understand how someone at his age, with the experience he has had in the game, doesn't understand simple tactics like:

A. Playing your wide players, wide. B. Playing your central players (forwards and midfielders), centrally. C. Not experimenting with a brand new CB pairing on the road in the HEX. D. Not playing wide against a team with inferior athletes and players. E. Playing creative midfielders.

Like Thenry said (I think it was him), Jurgy doesn't have Low to back him up and it is really exposing his tactical intellectual level.

quote:International play and Club play = Apples and Oranges. Those teenagers played a shite ton more together than our international midfield. Especially, when our midfield is every changing. Bad example.

You also have to consider that club play is much, much more difficult than international play. Also, I was only responding to the fact that Suarez scores whether he has good service or not. Strictly speaking, it was a fine point to make (it wasn't my example).

Agreed, Jozy will be our guy, he just isn't ready yet. Does anyone else think our MF problems mainly stem from the personnel Klinsy plays together? It's just hard to picture ugly football if our MF consisted of say, Bradley, Feilhaber, Zusi, Dempsey and in the future Donovan and/or Stubear. That being said, ugly football comes from having Williams, Jones, EJ(he's a forward not midfielder), and Beckerman playing together, only one DM neccessary, and the rest of the MF should be creative technicians(first guys I listed above).